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Biomedical subjects

N J Pender

Publications and source records attributed to N J Pender.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Gender and developmental differences in exercise beliefs among youth and prediction of their exercise behavior.

This study examined gender and developmental differences in exercise-related beliefs and exercise behaviors of 286 racially diverse youth and explored factors predictive of exercise. Compared to males, females reported less prior and current exercise, lower self-esteem, poorer health status, and lower exercise self-schema. Adolescents, in contrast to pre-adolescents, reported less social support for exercise and fewer exercise role models. In a path model, gender, the benefits/barriers differential, and access to exercise facilities and programs directly predicted exercise. Effects of grade, perceived health status, exercise self-efficacy, social support for exercise, and social norms for exercise on exercise behavior, were mediated through the benefits/barriers differential. Effect of race on exercise was mediated by access to exercise facilities and programs. Continued exploration of gender and developmental differences in variables influencing physical activity can yield valuable information for tailoring exercise promotion interventions to the unique needs of youth.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Determinants of health-promoting lifestyle in ambulatory cancer patients.

The Health Promotion Model was tested as an explanatory framework for health-promoting lifestyle in a sample of 385 ambulatory cancer patients undergoing treatment in 13 clinical sites in the midwestern United States. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which cognitive/perceptual and modifying variables identified in the Health Promotion Model explain the occurrence of health-promoting behaviors in adults with cancer. A secondary aim was to determine the potential of illness-specific cognitive/perceptual and modifying variables for further explaining the occurrence of health-promoting behaviors in adults with cancer. Multiple regression analyses revealed that 23.5% of the variance in health-promoting lifestyle was explained by the model cognitive/perceptual variables definition of health, perceived health status and perceived control of health and the modifying variables education, income, age and employment. When illness-specific variables were included in the analysis, initial reaction to the diagnosis of cancer was found to be a significant contributor to the regression. Study results support the importance of both general health-related and cancer-specific cognitive/perceptual factors in explaining the occurrence of health-enhancing behaviors among ambulatory cancer patients; these factors may therefore be suitable targets for interventions to encourage adoption of healthy lifestyles.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Expressing health through lifestyle patterns.

Few concepts have received more attention from health professionals and the public during the last decade than health. This is largely due to the emergence of disease prevention and health promotion as global priorities. Unfortunately, the nature of health as a positive life process is poorly understood. Theoretical formulations of health often lack specificity and existing measures almost without exception reflect a narrow clinical perspective of health as the absence of disease. The purpose of this paper is to propose a system for classifying expressions of health of persons in their entirety and to suggest related indicators of high-level health.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1988

Health-promoting life styles of older adults: comparisons with young and middle-aged adults, correlates and patterns.

The purposes of the study presented were to compare the health-promoting behaviors of older adults with those of young and middle-aged adults, to examine the relationship of age and other sociodemographic characteristics to life style throughout adulthood, and to identify differing life-style patterns among older adults. Six dimensions of life style were measured by the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile in 452 adults aged 18 to 88. Older adults had higher scores in overall health-promoting life style and in the dimensions of health responsibility, nutrition, and stress management than both young and middle-aged adults. Sociodemographic variables accounted for only 13.4% of the variance in life style and for 5.2% to 18.6% in its six dimensions. Five major health-promoting life-style patterns were identified among older adults, depicting a heterogeneous group with varying needs for health promotion programming.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Development and psychometric evaluation of the exercise benefits/barriers scale.

Initial psychometric evaluation of an instrument to measure perceived benefits of exercise and perceived barriers to exercise was based on the responses of 650 adults and included item analysis, factor analysis, and reliability measures. Factor analysis yielded nine factors, five benefits and four barriers, which explained 64.9% of the variance in the 43-item instrument. Second order factor analysis resulted in a two-factor solution, one a benefits factor and the other a barriers factor. The standardized Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients were: .952 for the total scale, .953 for the benefits scale, and .886 for the barriers scale. Use of the instrument in research involving perceptions of the benefits of exercise and the barriers to exercise appears warranted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Effects of progressive muscle relaxation training on anxiety and health locus of control among hypertensive adults.

The effects of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on anxiety and perceptions of personal control over health status are evaluated in this study. After collection of baseline data, 22 hypertensive clients received relaxation training in a series of weekly group sessions followed by individual monitoring sessions over a 6-week period. The 22 hypertensive clients in the control group received blood pressure monitoring, weight checks, and health counseling but were given no relaxation training during the study period. The group instructed in relaxation exhibited significantly lower anxiety than the control group at 4-month followup. After training, the relaxation group also scored significantly higher than the control group on beliefs in personal control of health and lower in beliefs that chance or luck affected health outcomes. At followup, the groups did not differ significantly on perceived influence of powerful others over health status. Findings support the potential usefulness of relaxation training in modifying affective and cognitive characteristics of hypertensive clients.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1984

Physiologic responses of clients with essential hypertension to progressive muscle relaxation training.

The effects of progressive muscle relaxation on blood pressure of hypertensive clients were examined. After collection of baseline data, 22 clients received group relaxation training followed by individual monitoring sessions over a 6-week period. The 22 persons in the control group did not receive relaxation training. The group instructed in relaxation had a lower mean systolic blood pressure than the nontrained group at 4-month follow-up. While the relaxation-trained group showed a significant decrease in diastolic pressure from baseline to follow-up, the difference between trained and non-trained groups at follow-up was not significant. Relaxation, taught initially in group with individual follow-up visits, resulted in continued practice of relaxation and subsequent lowering of blood pressure in subjects with essential, uncomplicated hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Nurses with doctoral degrees: education and employment characteristics.

Selected education and employment characteristics of nurses with doctorates were examined. Data were obtained in late 1979 and 1980 about three time periods in the 1,964 respondents' careers: (a) doctoral study, (b) first position, and (c) current position if different from first position. Of the nurses studied, 76% completed doctoral programs in the 1970s. Education was the major field of study most frequently reported, followed by social/behavioral sciences and nursing; federal monies were the major source of financial support. Nurses with doctorates were hired in their first position primarily for teaching in baccalaureate and higher degree programs in nursing with a sizable shift to administrative roles in academia among those reporting current positions different from first positions, Only 6% to 8% of doctorally prepared nurses were hired primarily for the conduct of research in either first or current position.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Illness prevention and health promotion services provided by nurse practitioners: predicting potential consumers.

A cross-sectional survey of 388 residents of a northern Illinois county explored the relationships between psychosocial and behavioral characteristics of the population and intentions to use illness prevention and health promotion services provided by nurse practitioners. Results of the study indicated that 61 per cent of the respondents intended to use one or more of the nurse-provided services when they became available within the community. The best predictors of intention to use the services were: expressed interest in use of prevention and health promotion services for direct pay, education beyond high school, and a low level of life stress. Intentions to use the services did not differ significantly between individuals with a regular personal physician and those without a regular physician. These data were interpreted as indicating a need within the community for nurse practitioners to provide prevention and health promotion care. The findings also supported the complementary roles of nurses and physicians in providing health care to ambulatory populations.

Attitude to Health↗